Nastasia Peters (aka Nas) is an Illustrator and Writer who recently moved from France to England. Her illustrations are a way to translate the imaginary worlds and characters that roam in her mind. She has been using vector for ten years and has published two fantasy novels in 2013. When she isn't drawing or writing, she'll be playing a game or tell her room mates she's bored in hopes they'll entertain her.

The Fundamentals of Digital Painting

We have posted several tutorials and written, to help ease you into mastering Graphic Styles and the Appearance panel. Check out the ones you may have missed or revisit those handy beginner tutorials.

We have posted several tutorials and written, to help ease you into mastering Graphic Styles and the Appearance panel. Check out the ones you may have missed or revisit those handy beginner tutorials.Read More…

In this week's Round Up we've focused purely on beginner content for those who wish to get a better understanding on the Blend Tool and Blends! These aren't the only tutorials we have on Tuts+, in fact I'd like to share with you many of our others.

In this week's Round Up we've focused purely on beginner content for those who wish to get a better understanding on the Blend Tool and Blends! These aren't the only tutorials we have on Tuts+, in fact I'd like to share with you many of our others.Read More…

The brushes in Adobe Illustrator are incredible tools that allow you to create and do a multitude of things. This week we've focused purely on beginner content for those who wish to get a better understanding on brushes. These aren't the only tutorials we have on Tuts+, in fact I'd like to share with you many of our others.

The brushes in Adobe Illustrator are incredible tools that allow you to create and do a multitude of things. This week we've focused purely on beginner content for those who wish to get a better understanding on brushes. These aren't the only tutorials we have on Tuts+, in fact I'd like to share with you many of our others.Read More…

Gradient Mesh is often seen as a tough area to master in Adobe Illustrator. This week we've focused purely on beginner content for those who wish to get into meshing but want to know the basics. These aren't the only tutorials we have on Tuts+, in fact I'd like to share with you many of our others.

Gradient Mesh is often seen as a tough area to master in Adobe Illustrator. This week we've focused purely on beginner content for those who wish to get into meshing but want to know the basics. These aren't the only tutorials we have on Tuts+, in fact I'd like to share with you many of our others.Read More…

Image Trace in Adobe Illustrator is handy for many reasons. If you use the program for illustrations mostly, it's one of the tools usually avoided as you can easily recognize images that have been traced in Adobe Illustrator and because it has it's own "style", it often clashes with whatever style you're working with.
I personally wouldn't recommend using it on an element in an illustration that has a lot of focus, as the viewer's eye will be attracted there instantly. But using Image Trace in background elements to help enhance an illustration or even to create texture and add depth to, for example, a character's clothing (or if you happen to be in a rush), this tool can be really great!

Image Trace in Adobe Illustrator is handy for many reasons. If you use the program for illustrations mostly, it's one of the tools usually avoided as you can easily recognize images that have been traced in Adobe Illustrator and because it has it's own "style", it often clashes with whatever style you're working with.
I personally wouldn't recommend using it on an element in an illustration that has a lot of focus, as the viewer's eye will be attracted there instantly. But using Image Trace in background elements to help enhance an illustration or even to create texture and add depth to, for example, a character's clothing (or if you happen to be in a rush), this tool can be really great!Read More…

In this tutorial we are going to take a look at using the Paintbrush Tool and its options to achieve a painted effect with vector in Adobe Illustrator. I will be using it on one of my characters and we will focus on her only, not the background. What is nice about this technique is that you can apply it on anything and it is quite simple. So even if you aren't that advanced yet, you should have no difficulty using the Paintbrush Tool in this manner.

In this tutorial we are going to take a look at using the Paintbrush Tool and its options to achieve a painted effect with vector in Adobe Illustrator. I will be using it on one of my characters and we will focus on her only, not the background. What is nice about this technique is that you can apply it on anything and it is quite simple. So even if you aren't that advanced yet, you should have no difficulty using the Paintbrush Tool in this manner.Read More…

It is hard to compare male to female faces simply because each face is unique, but there are some features in the face that can make a male portrait look more masculine or a female portrait look more feminine. In this article we're going to take a look at those features. You will be able to accentuate your drawing in those regions, so that the masculinity or femininity will become more prominent in the portrait.

It is hard to compare male to female faces simply because each face is unique, but there are some features in the face that can make a male portrait look more masculine or a female portrait look more feminine. In this article we're going to take a look at those features. You will be able to accentuate your drawing in those regions, so that the masculinity or femininity will become more prominent in the portrait.Read More…

Summer is coming to an end and it is almost time to go back to school again. With this in mind, let us get to basics and share with you a selection of great beginner tutorials and articles which explain tools, panels and other tricks Adobe Illustrator has to offer!

Summer is coming to an end and it is almost time to go back to school again. With this in mind, let us get to basics and share with you a selection of great beginner tutorials and articles which explain tools, panels and other tricks Adobe Illustrator has to offer!Read More…

Although stock photography is really great, occasionally you can't always find exactly what you need reference wise. Maybe the angle isn't exactly what you were looking for, or an arm is pointing in the opposite direction, whereas the rest of the pose is exactly as you wanted it.

Although stock photography is really great, occasionally you can't always find exactly what you need reference wise. Maybe the angle isn't exactly what you were looking for, or an arm is pointing in the opposite direction, whereas the rest of the pose is exactly as you wanted it. Read More…

Last month we talked about how to draw different expressions and emotions. In this tutorial I will be showing you useful guidelines you can follow to draw common body types for both males and females. We will be using simple shapes to draw the body type out over it, such as rectangles, triangles and irregular quadrilaterals. We will start out with six female body types and then follow that up with six male body types.

Last month we talked about how to draw different expressions and emotions. In this tutorial I will be showing you useful guidelines you can follow to draw common body types for both males and females. We will be using simple shapes to draw the body type out over it, such as rectangles, triangles and irregular quadrilaterals. We will start out with six female body types and then follow that up with six male body types. Read More…

In this Quick Tip I will be showing some useful guidelines you can follow to create the base of a head with facial features, following that up with quick tips on how to shape the facial features to create an expression/show emotion!

In this Quick Tip I will be showing some useful guidelines you can follow to create the base of a head with facial features, following that up with quick tips on how to shape the facial features to create an expression/show emotion!Read More…